Hyperthyroidism Symptoms and Treatment

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms: Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone – more than the body needs. One of the thyroid hormones’ functions is to control the pace of our body processes, which is widely known as metabolism. This disease is more likely to happen in women than in men. Reports show that women are likely to have hyperthyroidism 10 times more than men. Hyperthyroidism is the medical term used to define the signs and symptoms of the over production of thyroid hormones. One is considered healthy if their thyroid glands produce just enough thyroid hormones that the body needs.

When the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormones, metabolism increases. A person can experience feelings of warmness or hotness and can lose weight even when eating normally. Patients who suffer from hyperthyroidism normally experiences fatigue but have trouble sleeping. Some people experience trembling of the hands and palpitations. More often, some become irritable and really upset.

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms often vary. One may not notice the symptoms unless they become more severe. This basically means that one can go on living not feeling any of the symptoms until they get really sick. Some get sick for weeks and months and still don’t realize that they are experiencing the side effects of hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms

Most people don’t feel any Hyperthyroidism symptoms. Others can just lose weight and feel depressed for no reason at all. Below are the common symptoms one feels when suffering with hyperthyroidism:

a) Staring Gaze

b) Heat Intolerance

c) Palpitations

d) Inability to Sleep

e) Diarrhea

f) Fast Heart Rate

g) Muscle Weakness

h) Fatigue

i) Weight Loss

j) Trembling Hands

k) Hair Loss

l) Warm Moist Skin

m) Light or Absent Menstrual Periods

n) Nervousness or Irritability

o) Agitation

p) Decreased Libido

Hyperthyroidism Treatment

Hyperthyroidism is treatable. But treatment for each patient differs. It is more of a case to case basis. An individual may endure and be cured with a certain treatment but that treatment may not be suitable for another patient who is suffering from hyperthyroidism.

The ultimate goal in treating hyperthyroidism is to stop the thyroid gland from producing too much thyroid hormones. Doctors prescribe anti-thyroid medications to block the production of thyroid hormones. One of the rare side effects of treating someone with hyperthyroidism is the increase of one’s white blood cells. It is very unlikely for one to have a fever when being treated with hyperthyroidism. IF this happens, one should call their doctor immediately.

Other prescriptions include radio-active iodine. The disadvantage of being treated with radio-active iodine is that this kills a lot of cells, causing thyroid hormone levels to become low, and eventually leads to hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism means one’s thyroid gland fails to produce and secrete enough thyroid hormones for the body.

Interesting Questions about Thyroid:

How is Hypothyroidism Treated?

The standard treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone pills. The pills provide the body with the right amount of thyroid hormone when the gland is not able to produce enough by itself. While the symptoms of hypothyroidism are usually corrected within a few months, most patients need to take the pills for the rest of their lives.

The preferred thyroid hormone for treatment is levothyroxine (T4). You should use only the brand-name that your doctor prescribes, since generic brands may not be as reliable. Name brand levothyroxine pills include Levothroid®, Synthroid®, Levoxyl®, and Eltroxin®.

Patients sometimes take more pills than they should, trying to speed up the treatment or lose weight. However, this can lead to hyperthyroidism, a disease in which there is too much thyroid hormone in the blood, and to long-term complications, such as osteoporosis. You should take the pills as your doctor prescribes.

At different times in your life, you may need to take different amounts of thyroid hormones. Therefore, you should see your doctor once a year to make sure everything is all right.

® Levothroid is a registered trademark of Forest Pharmaceuticals.
® Synthroid is a registered trademark of Knoll Pharmaceuticals.
® Levoxyl is a registered trademark of Jones Medical Industries.
® Eltroxin is a registered trademark of Roberts Pharmaceuticals.

Hyperthyroidism Diet

The good thing about having hyperthyroidism is that it can still be cured and prevented through a proper diet. One needs to eat foods that will not trigger the activity in the thyroid gland. The best diet would be one that includes vegetables, meat, whole grains and fruits. When we cook our food, some nutrients are being removed – that’s why it is advisable to eat raw fruits and vegetables. The fresh and raw fruits and vegetables still have their nutrients intact. Do away with the cooked and processed ones. Visit your doctor so you may also be prescribed with any multi-vitamins you may need.

One should avoid caffeinated drinks. This is very dangerous for the thyroid gland. Avoiding this will help lessen the activity of the thyroid gland. It is highly recommended by doctors and endocrinologists to avoid foods that have high iodine content. It is very important to follow the hyperthyroidism diet to cure your thyroid problem. This is not a simple health problem. It may lead to a more severe and complicated disease. Following the hyperthyroidism diet is the first step to curing one’s thyroid problem.

Hyperthyroidism and Pregnancy

When one is pregnant, they think that symptoms such as feeling warm, nervousness, insomnia, fatigue and weight loss are normal. To be safe, it is best to see a doctor for more information and for one to be treated in cases that these symptoms are not all because of the pregnancy. It is very important that hyperthyroidism be controlled in pregnant women. This entails a higher risk of a miscarriage or birth defects without therapy. As a precaution, if one is planning to have a baby, it is best to have one’s self checked first before getting pregnant. Treating hyperthyroidism while one is pregnant is hard. To ensure one’s and baby’s safety, see a doctor. This prevents any future complications with the pregnancy.

Thyromine is a health supplement that helps provide nutrition to the thyroid gland to help it function healthily. Thyromine can help treat both under and over active thyroid problems.

Thyromine was originally created because researchers found that the thyroid gland often had issues that it could reverse on its own if it were getting the proper nutrition it needed. The nutrition that thyroid glands need is amino acids, iodine and vitamins and minerals found in vegetables. Thyromine is a complete supplement that provides all the nutrients the thyroid gland needs.

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Your Thyroid – Where Is It And What Does It Do?

The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland located in the base of your throat, below your voice box. Thyroid tissue is secretes 2 hormones that regulate metabolism. These hormones are thyroid thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Most people assume that metabolism is about the gastrointestinal tract and yes, it is. But it’s also about cellular metabolism. This is how your cells get fuel to produce the energy needed for cellular functions.

Thyroid hormones play an integral regulatory role in this process. Every cell in your body has thyroid hormone (TH) receptors. This means they ALL need TH at some point to function.

Abnormal Thyroid Hormone Production

Most of the hormone produced by the thyroid is T4 (around 80%) and the rest is T3. The body can’t use T4 so it’s converted to the more metabolically active T3 elsewhere in the body. T3 is then used to regulate a myriad of metabolic processes at cellular level.

When you have low thyroxine levels (T4) it means you’ll also have low levels of T3. This type of thyroid imbalance causes serious health problems. For a start, it means processes like insulin mediated glucose uptake are impaired. Glucose is your body’s primary source of cellular fuel. If your cells can’t get enough glucose to generate energy, they can’t function correctly. That in turn means you won’t function very well!

The Many Different Thyroid Problems

The power factories in cells (mitochondria) also need TH. TH ensures they receive enough glucose to produce energy. It also regulates the generation of new mitochondria. Without enough TH cells can’t produce new power factories to replace old ones as they die off. That’s on top of not getting enough fuel to produce energy!

This is why low TH levels can affect every major system and organ in your body. Blood circulation and pressure. Heart health. Body temperature. Mood and neurological function. Skin health and so on. They all rely on having healthy, functioning cells. But without correct cellular metabolism happening, they can’t be healthy. And that has disastrous consequences for your health!

Hypothyroidism – Low Thyroid Hormone Disorder

Serious thyroid deficiency disease, or hypothyroidism, affects around 2 to 3% of Americans. A further 10 – 15% have some form of subclinical hypothyroid disorder. Some experts believe the true figure is more like 80 – 90%! This makes hypothyroidism the most common of all thyroid conditions in humans.

Common Thyroid Syndrome Symptoms

Hypothyroidism causes symptoms that range from being almost undetectable to life threatening. It depends on the stage the disease is at. There is a list of the most common problems due to thyroid malfunction here.

Causes Of Thyroid Dysfunction

Many things can cause thyroid dysfunction. Iodine deficiency remains the leading cause of hypothyroidism in developing countries. In developed countries it’s Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Other causes include thyroid tumors as well as pituitary and hypothalamus disorders. Radioactive treatment and some types of drugs are other common causes. Pregnancy is another. Menopausal women are also far more likely to develop this disorder than men.

Disclaimer: Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your treating doctor. The Thyroid Guide does not dispense medical advice, prescribe, or diagnose illness. The views and nutritional advice expressed by The Thyroid Guide are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.

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Are Thyroid Problems Common?

Thyroid function problems are relatively common. Thyroid hormone disease results from overactive or underactive thyroid function. Of these two, the underactive thyroid function disorder hypothyroidism is far more common. Around 2 – 3% of people in the US have diagnosed severe hypothyroidism. A further 10 – 15% have subclinical forms of the disease. Experts though believe that true thyroid system dysfunction figures are much higher. Some believe it could be as high as 80 – 90% of the population!

Common Thyroid Disorders And Diseases

Diseases related to thyroid disorders include Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disease. It is the most widespread thyroid disorder in developed countries. It causes hypothyroidism. Other thyroid diseases and disorders include Graves Disease, the leading cause of hyperthyroidism. Thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, goiter and thyroiditis are other diseases of this gland.

Thyroid Functions And Problems

The thyroid produces 2 hormones that regulate metabolism. The hormones are triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Problems in thyroid hormone production affect the entire body. Thyroid hormone controls metabolic function and energy production, right down to cellular level. When cells can’t get enough raw materials to produce energy, they can’t function correctly. This leads to problems with blood circulation. Also heart function, mood, body temperature and more.

Thyroid Disease Symptoms And Treatment

Thyroid symptoms causes a range of associated health disorders. Poor blood circulation slows down distribution of nutrients and oxygen to cells. This exacerbates the problems caused by lack of thyroid hormones. It also slows down removal of toxins from cells, causing toxic build up. This in turn sets off inflammation. A slow down in cellular metabolism causes lack of energy and sluggishness. It also contributes to a drop in basal temperature. This is the underlying mechanism for the characteristic hypothyroiditic low body temperature.

Thyroid hormones are involved in the production of important mood regulating neurotransmitters. Low levels of TH cause imbalances in these neurotransmitters. This affects mood. And contributes to the depression that so often comes with hypothyroidism. Which in turn contributes to stress and anxiety. And to the cascade of health problems that come with those.

Can Thyroid Disorders Be Treated Successfully?

Treatment for underactive thyroid disorders is with thyroid hormone replacement drugs. When taken according to instructions, most patients live normal, healthy lives.

Nonthyroidal Illness Syndrome (NTI)

Sometimes patients without thyroid-based illness will return abnormal results in thyroid function tests. This is Euthyroid sick syndrome or an NTI. Most patient recover full thyroid function once the NTI has passed.

Thyroid Symptoms Treatment

If you have thyroid issue symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even though many symptoms are common to a range of other health conditions, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Most countries have official organizations that provide information and advice about thyroid conditions. There are also charities like Thyroid UK that offer support for people that have thyroid and similar disorders.